Ayurveda

Ayurveda

"The Science of life" is an Indian system of natural medicine and healing that is suitable for everyone. Having a history of over 5000 years it stands as the most ancient and comprehensive natural health system in the world and is the original source of many modern natural healing therapies. It is a well tested and timeless approach drawn from the laws of nature and is tailored to your unique individual constitution. Becoming familiar with the concepts of ayurveda and discovering your unique constitution will enable you to live in a way that maximizes your health and enjoyment of life.

During a consultation ayurveda uses various diagnostic procedures such as pulse reading, tongue diagnosis, observation and discussion to determine your constitution and therapeutic approaches such as diet, lifestyle, herbs, massage and cleansing and rejuvenation therapies to redress any imbalances and restore health and well-being. Ayurveda is a way of life that places as much emphasis on maintaining health as it does on preventing and curing disease, believing that "health is the absolute harmony of body, mind, spirit, sense organs and intellect".

Ayurvedic principles

Ayurveda is based on the concept of the five elements - space, air, fire, water and earth. These elements have certain qualities which impact on the human body and mind and the varying proportions in which they exist within us as individuals make up our individual constitutions and are responsible for our physical and psychological make-up and tendencies. They are classified into three ‘dosha’; vata (space and air), pitta (fire and water) and kapha (water and earth).

Ayurvedic dosha

By working with your own individual constitution or dosha you can make simple adjustments to your daily regime and lifestyle which will redress any imbalances and ultimately maintain a state of well-being. Ayurveda, thus, helps to optimise your health and experience of life by bringing harmony to body, mind and spirit.

Vata (space & air)

Is our life force, our prana.

It regulates all physical and mental activities in the body and is reflected in every impulse of the nervous system. The involuntary blinking of our eyes, breathing and cell respiration, circulation of plasma, blood and nutrients and the elimination of wastes are all governed by vata. In the mind it exists as the energy of thought. It governs all sensory, emotional and mental processes.

People with predominately vata constitution are tall or petite, have irregular appetite, digestion and menstruation. They don’t like the cold, tend towards constipation, have cracking joints, dry skin and brittle hair. Mentally they are creative, flexible and excitable but can be ungrounded, anxious, nervous and fearful. When out of balance they can suffer from mental, nervous and digestive disorders, low energy and immunity and disorders related to the muscular–skeletal system.

Pitta (fire & water)

Governs all digestion, metabolism and transformation in the body. It is our digestive enzymes which digest our food so that it can be used as energy. It governs our thought processes and visual impressions, thereby promoting intelligence and understanding. Its fire gives us an appetite for food and life. Pitta governs the endocrine/hormonal system, body temperature, hunger, thirst and the skin.

People with predominately pitta constitution have a medium build, sharp penetrating eyes, sensitive skin and are prone to early greying and baldness. They have regular appetite, digestion and menstruation. Mentally pitta is organised, motivated and confident but can be controlling, obsessive, critical, jealous and irritable. When out of balance they suffer from digestive disorders, hormonal imbalances, blood/liver/spleen problems, skin complaints and stress.

Kapha (water & earth)

Is responsible for our physical structure, our support, strength, immunity and nourishment. It is the cerebrospinal fluid which protects our spine, the fluid in our joints, our mucus membranes, our saliva and the lining of our stomachs that protects from the digestive enzymes (pitta). It is present in the lymph and also the blood as plasma, through which it provides nourishment to the cells.

People with predominately kapha constitution are physically strong, well developed and are generally quite attractive. They have a slow metabolism, strong appetite with tendencies towards excess weight and fluid retention. Mentally kapha endows us with emotion and feeling, compassion, loyalty, patience and tolerance but can be lazy, depressed, greedy and an averse to change. When out of balance there is much stagnation and build up of mucus and toxins in their systems which manifest as digestive complaints, congestive disorders, lung problems, heaviness and lethargy, obesity and cholesterol.